DHCR Decisions          DOCKET NO.: FD 610266 RO                                              STATE OF NEW YORK                      DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL                            OFFICE OF RENT ADMINISTRATION                                     GERTZ PLAZA                               92-31 UNION HALL STREET                              JAMAICA, NEW YORK  11433          ------------------------------------X          IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE :   ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW              APPEAL OF                           :   DOCKET NO.: FD 610266 RO                                              :               GP & T REALTY CORP.            :   DISTRICT RENT                                                :   ADMINISTRATOR'S DOCKET                                                  :   NO.: BG 610680 R                                              :                             PETITIONER       :          ------------------------------------X                                        ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW               On April 19, 1991 the above-named petitioner-owner filed a          Petition for Administrative Review against an order issued on          April 16, 1991 by the Rent Administrator, 92-31 Union Hall          Street, Jamaica, NY concerning housing accommodations known as          2791 University Avenue, Apartment 1-B Bronx, New York wherein the          Administrator determined an overcharge and imposed treble damages          predicated on owner's collection of late rent payment charges          since there was no provision for same in the tenant's initial          lease.               The Commissioner has reviewed all of the evidence in the          record and carefully considered that portion of the record          relevant to the issues raised by the Petition for Review.               In this Petition for Administrative Review the owner          contends, in substance, that the renewal lease covering the          period from June 1, 1985 to May 31, 1987 contains a provision for          a late rent payment charge  as agreed to by the tenant.               After a careful consideration of the entire record, the          Commissioner is of the opinion that this petition should be          denied.               Section 2522.5(g) of the current Rent Stabilization Code (as          did the former Code) provides that the lease provided to the          tenant by the owner, with limited exceptions not here relevant,          be on the same terms and conditions as the expired lease.          DOCKET NO.: FD 610266 RO               The record clearly discloses that the late payment clause          inserted in the tenant's renewal lease (6-1-85 to 5-31-87) was          not contained in the tenant's initial lease.  The inclusion of          such clause and the collection of late payment charges thereunder          was in contravention of the express provisions of the Code and          was properly found by the Administrator to constitute a rent          overcharge.               Section 2526.1(a)(1) of the Rent Stabilization Code          provides, in substance, for the imposition of treble damages on          overcharges occurring on or after April 1, 1984 unless an owner          establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the          overcharge was not willful.  The Commissioner does not consider          the owner to have rebutted the presumption of willfulness and          therefore finds that treble damages were properly assessed.               THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rent Stabilization Law and          Code, it is               ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby is          denied and that the District Rent Administrator's order be, and          the same is affirmed.               ISSUED:                                                                                                                              JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA                                                  Deputy Commissioner